Multi function cable clip device

ABSTRACT

A cable includes a first portion and a second portion. An earpiece speaker is attached to the first portion of the cable. An earhook is provided and a multi-purpose clip is simultaneously attached, in a first use mode, only to the earpiece speaker and the earhook. In a second use mode, the clip is simultaneously attached to the earhook, the earpiece speaker and the second portion of the cable. Also in a first use mode, each of a pair of clips is simultaneously connected only to a respective earpiece speaker and a respective earhook. In a second use mode, at least one of the clips is simultaneously connected to a respective earhook, a respective earpiece speaker and the second portion of the cable.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates generally to clips and more particularly to clips for use with cables associated with portable personal electronic devices.

There are an increasing number of various portable electronic devices being carried by persons for listening, recording, communicating, and other functions. Often, such devices can be used with earpieces interconnected with the devices by cables. These cables typically include a plug attached to the device at one terminal end and earpieces connected at another terminal end. The earpieces may be simultaneously mounted in or on both of a user's ears, and in some cases only one of the earpieces is used. Thus the unused earpiece and associated cable can dangle uncomfortably so as to create an obstruction.

Accordingly, it would be beneficial to provide for management of such a dangling earpiece.

SUMMARY

One embodiment, accordingly, includes a cable clip apparatus and system. Thus, a cable includes a first portion and a second portion. An earpiece speaker is attached to the first portion of the cable. An earhook is provided and a multi-purpose clip is simultaneously attached, in a first use mode, only to the earpiece speaker, and the earhook. In a second use mode, the clip is simultaneously attached to the earhook, the earpiece speaker and the second portion of the cable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a frontal view illustrating an embodiment of a cable interconnecting a device at one end and a pair of earpieces at another end.

FIG. 2 is a side view illustrating an embodiment of an earhook.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a multifunction cable clip.

FIG. 4 is a side view illustrating an embodiment of the clip of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a top view illustrating an embodiment of the clip of FIGS. 3 and 4.

FIG. 6 is a frontal view illustrating an embodiment of a cable similar to FIG. 1 and further including a pair of earhooks and multifunction cable clips.

FIG. 7 is an altered view of FIG. 6 illustrating an embodiment of the cable having the clip retaining an earhook and an earpiece on a portion of the cable.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A cable 10, FIG. 1, includes a pair first portions 12, each of which are connected to a respective earpiece speaker 14 including a stem 38. One of the first portions 12 of cable 10 may include a volume and selection control member 15. The pair of first cable portions 12 are joined to form a second cable portion 16 which is of a relatively larger diameter than each of the first portions 12. The second cable portion 16 includes a plug 18 detachably connected to an electronic device 20 which may be used for listening, recording, communicating, and other functions. The control member 15 is functional to control volume and selection relating to the electronic device 20.

An earhook 22, FIG. 2, includes a post member 24 and a curved hook member 26. The post member 24 is detachably connectable to a member as will be described below. The hook member 26 may be used to be retained on a user's ear.

A multi-function clip 28, FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, is formed of a suitable synthetic material and includes a first portion 30, a second portion 32 and a third portion 34. The first portion 30 includes a first elongated slotted opening 36 of a first size which is of a construction sufficient for engaging stem 38 extending from earpiece 14 (see also FIG. 1). The second portion 32 includes a second elongated slotted opening 40 of a second size which is smaller than the first size and is of a construction sufficient for engaging second cable portion 16 (FIG. 1). The third portion 34 interconnects the first and second portions 30, 32, respectively. The third portion 34 includes a cylindrical opening 42 and is of a construction sufficient for engaging and receiving post 24 of earhook 22 (see FIG. 2). Each of the above-mentioned connections are snap-on or clip-on connections. That is, the earpiece stem 38 clips or snaps in first opening 36, second cable portion 16 clips or snaps in second opening 40 and stem 24 of earhook 22 clips or snaps in cylindrical opening 42. Also, slots 36 and 40 are relatively opposed to one another. A clip-in or snap-in engagement is possible due to the elongated edges 31 and 33 of respective openings 36 and 40 being sufficiently flexible.

In FIGS. 6 and 7, the utility of multifunction clip 28 is illustrated. In FIG. 6, cable 10 including first cable portions 12 and earpiece speakers 14 each have a clip 28 attached to their respective earpiece stems 38 in opening 36. An earhook post 24 is simultaneously attached to each clip in opening 42. In this mode each hook member 26 may engage with each ear of a user and opening 40 of each clip 28 is unoccupied. In a second mode, FIG. 7, wherein the user may wish to remove one of the earpiece speakers 14 and the respective earhook 22, from one ear so that the ear is free for another use, e.g. to answer a phone call or simply to rest one ear or reduce speaker input into one ear, the associated first portion 12 along with earhook 22, earpiece speaker 14 and clip 28 are free to dangle adjacent second cable portion 16. In this mode, the dangling first cable portion 12 may become an obstruction. To avoid such an obstruction, opening 40 of clip 28 is attached to second-cable portion 16 thus reducing the obstruction. In the second mode, the non-removed earpiece 14, FIG. 7, remains in place in the user's ear.

As a result of the foregoing, in the first use mode, FIG. 6, the first portion 30 of clip 28 is a connector used simultaneously only with the third portion 34 of clip 28, and the second portion 32 is unoccupied. In the second use mode, FIG. 7, the first and second portions 30, 32, respectively, of clip 28 are connectors used simultaneously with the third portion 34 of clip 28.

It can also be observed that in the first use mode, FIG. 6, each clip 28 is simultaneously connected only to each earpiece speaker 14 and each earhook 22. In the second use mode, FIG. 7, one of the clips 28 remains simultaneously connected to only one earpiece speaker 14 and one earhook 22, whereas the other of the clips 28 is simultaneously connected to the other earpiece speaker 14, the other earhook 22, and the second portion 16 of the cable.

Although illustrative embodiments have been shown and described, a wide range of modification, change and substitution is contemplated in the foregoing disclosure and in some instances, some features of the embodiments may be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the embodiments disclosed herein. 

1. Apparatus comprising; a clip; a first portion of the clip having a first opening; a second portion of the clip having a second opening; and a third portion of the clip interconnected with the first and second portions of the clip, whereby, in a first use mode, the first portion is a connector used simultaneously only with the third portion, and in a second use mode, the first and second portions are connectors used simultaneously with the third portion.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first and second openings of the clip comprise a first and second slot, respectively.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the third portion of the clip comprises a cylindrical opening.
 4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the first slot is of a first size and the second slot is of second size smaller than the first size.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of the first, second and third portions of the clip define a clip-on opening.
 6. An audio apparatus comprising: a cable having a first portion and a second portion; an earpiece speaker attached to the first portion of the cable; an earhook; and a multi-purpose clip simultaneously attached, in a first use mode, only to the earpiece speaker and the earhook, and simultaneously attached, in a second use mode to the earhook, the earpiece speaker and the second portion of the cable.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the clip includes a pair of elongated opposed slots and a cylindrical opening positioned between the slots.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein one of the slots is of a first size and the other one of the slots is of a second size, smaller than the first size.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the slots and the cylindrical opening define a snap-on connector with the first and second portions of the cable, and the earhook, respectively.
 10. A system comprising: a cable having a pair of first portions connected to a single second portion; an earpiece speaker attached to each of the first portions of the cable; a pair of earhooks; a multi-purpose clip connected to each earhook; and in a first use mode, each clip being simultaneously connected only to a respective earpiece speaker and a respective earhook, and in a second use mode, one of the clips remaining simultaneously connected only to one earpiece speaker and one earhook, and the other of the clips being simultaneously connected to the other earpiece speaker, the other earhook and the second portion of the cable.
 11. The system of claim 10 wherein each clip includes a pair of elongated opposed slots and cylindrical opening positioned between the slots.
 12. The system of claim 11 wherein one of the slots is of a first size and the other one of the slots is of a second size smaller than the first size.
 13. The system of claim 12 wherein the slots and the cylindrical opening respectively define a clip-on connector with the first and second portion of the cable, and the earhook.
 14. The system of claim 13 wherein the first size slot defines a snap-on connection with an associated earpiece speaker, the second size slot defines a snap-on connection with the second portion of the cable, and the cylindrical opening defines a snap-on connection with an associated earhook.
 15. An audio system comprising: a cable having a pair of first portions connected to a single second portion; an earpiece speaker attached to each of the first portions of the cable; a pair of earhooks; a multi-purpose clip connected to each earhook; and in a first use mode, each clip being simultaneously connected only to a respective earpiece speaker and a respective earhook, and in a second use mode, at least one of the clips is simultaneously connected to a respective earhook, a respective earpiece speaker and the second portion of the cable.
 16. The system of claim 15 wherein the clip includes a pair of elongated opposed slots and a cylindrical opening positioned between the slots.
 17. The system of claim 16 wherein one of the slots is of a first size and the other one of the slots is of a second size smaller than the first size.
 18. The system of claim 16 wherein the slots and the cylindrical opening respectively define a clip-on connection with the first and second portion of the cable, and the earhook. 